Today, Congressman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), the Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, and the representative of Lower Manhattan, urged U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder to launch an investigation into numerous allegations of excessive force used by NYPD officers against Occupy Wall Street protesters -- and by other police forces in demonstrations around the country -- and whether certain officers deprived protesters or members of the media of their civil liberties. In a letter to the Attorney General, Nadler detailed many of the disturbing accounts of alleged police misconduct and pressed for a thorough inquiry.
"Over the past several weeks, I have heard a number of credible and troubling allegations of police misconduct around Occupy Wall Street demonstrations nationwide," said Nadler. "Our law enforcement officers have a duty to protect our health and safety, but that duty must always be discharged with respect for the fundamental First Amendment rights to free expression and peaceful assembly. I am urging Attorney General Holder to launch a thorough investigation into law enforcement activities surrounding Occupy Wall Street -- and its national offshoots -- to determine whether the police have indeed violated the civil liberties of demonstrators or members of the media."
Nadler's letter is attached as a PDF and follows below:
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
The Honorable Eric Holder
Attorney General of the United States
U.S. Department of Justice
950 Pennsylvania, NW
Washington, D.C. 20530
Dear Attorney General Holder:
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